Empowering Partner Villages in Preventing Early Marriage as a Sustainable Effort to Prevent Stunting through the Healthy and Decent Housing Program (RUSELA)

Nurlailis Saadah; Sulikah Sulikah; Aries  Prasetya; Budi Yulianto; Uswatun Khasanah

doi:10.35882/ficse.v5i3.152

Authors

Nurlailis Saadah Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4129-1444
Sulikah Sulikah Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6872-4908
Aries Prasetya Department of Environmental Health, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2396-182X
Budi Yulianto Department of Environmental Health, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1776-5320
Uswatun Khasanah Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35882/ficse.v5i3.152

Keywords:

early marriage, community empowerment, Stunting Prevention, Healthy Housing, Adolescent Reproductive

Abstract

Early marriage contributes to stunting through adolescent pregnancy, limited reproductive readiness, and inadequate knowledge of child care and nutrition, necessitating sustainable, multi-stakeholder empowerment approaches at the village level. This community service program aimed to empower partner villages to prevent early marriage as a sustainable strategy for stunting prevention through the Healthy and Decent Housing Program (RUSELA). Using a Participatory Rural Appraisal approach, the program was implemented in four stages: preparation, education, training and mentoring, and monitoring and evaluation. Thirty-eight participants, comprising adolescents, health cadres, integrated health post (Posyandu) cadres, and village officials, received education on adolescent reproductive health, maturation of marriage age, stunting prevention, and healthy housing indicators, followed by practical training and mentoring. Knowledge was assessed using a 20-item pretest and posttest questionnaire and analyzed descriptively, supported by observation of participation and feedback discussions. The mean knowledge score increased from 61.8 to 86.5 (a 40.0% relative increase), and 34 participants (89.5%) improved their scores. Participants with good or very good knowledge rose from 26.3% to 86.8%, while those with poor knowledge declined from 26.3% to 0%. A simple home assessment indicated that most households had access to clean water, although ventilation and waste management required improvement. The program also generated a shared commitment among village government, cadres, and the community to integrate RUSELA into village development activities. In conclusion, RUSELA is a promising and participatory empowerment model that strengthens community knowledge and supports sustainable stunting prevention at the village level. However, the evaluation was limited to short-term knowledge outcomes in a single village; therefore, continued mentoring and long-term monitoring of behavioral change are recommended.

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